Checkpoints, curfews and barbed wire: Life on North Korea’s doorstep

That is the noisy actuality for the residents of Taesung, a small village on North Korea’s doorstep.

Often known as “Freedom Village,” it is the one South Korean settlement within the 160-mile lengthy and a couple of.5 mile-wide demilitarized zone (DMZ) that divides North and South Korea.

Cho Younger-sook, who runs the village restaurant, is one among simply 197 South Koreans dwelling in Taesung. She moved right here 38 years in the past when she married a neighborhood man — the one manner anybody is allowed to maneuver into this uncommon and tight-knit neighborhood.

She describes a village on edge.

“We… see this case as fairly adverse. We lock our doorways at night time now which we did not earlier than,” she mentioned when CNN visited the village in August.

Propaganda battle

The propaganda battle between the 2 Koreas is not delicate. Along with the broadcasts from the North, through the years either side has been engaged in a tat-for-tat over the dimensions of their respective flagpoles. North Korea is at the moment within the lead with a pole of 165 meters — one of many world’s largest.

There’s a village within the North Korean facet of the DMZ, Kijong, the place the flag pole is situated. Residents say they often see individuals transferring about — however they cannot inform whether or not they’re civilians or troopers. South Korea additionally broadcasts its personal propaganda towards the North — however not from this village and never as loud.

Taesung is a rice farming neighborhood and has been for generations, however since 1953, when the peninsula was break up in two within the aftermath of the Korean Battle, residents have lived with a risk that colours each side of their life.

Farmers want a South Korean army escort each time their go to their fields — one step too far they usually might stumble into the North. A stream between rice paddies is all that marks the precise border.

Residents should abide by a midnight curfew and are topic to checks by armed troopers of their dwelling each night time. They have to additionally undergo checkpoints once they go out and in of the village — a bus comes twice a day.

These aren’t idle precautions — there have been two abductions of Taesung residents by North Korean troopers. In 1997, a mom and son have been taken by troopers whereas selecting acorns and launched 5 days later and in 1975 a 20-year-old farm employee was kidnapped. North Korea claims he voluntarily crossed the border and has but to return him.

In change for the dangers, residents, who should dwell there 240 days annually, do take pleasure in advantages. Because the village is below the management of the United Nations Command, not the South Korean authorities, villagers need not pay tax and are exempt from obligatory army service.

Few residents need to speak on digital camera, some do not need to speak in any respect. There’s concern that something they do or say can be misinterpret by North Korea, bringing them unwelcome consideration.

“We simply collect and hearken to the tv since there may be a lot information relating to this, we simply really feel a bit unsettled for the time being,” says Cho.

Nevertheless, Cho says she would by no means think about leaving Taesung.

“In contrast to different villages, there are younger individuals right here as properly, there is a sense of neighborhood, that is why I like this place… I am doing very properly right here.”

‘Dream Making Zone’

The village boasts a faculty to be pleased with.

Twelve lecturers for 35 college students, class iPads, higher amenities than the common South Korean elementary college or kindergarten. The letters DMZ are pinned on the wall however right here they stand for “Dream Making Zone.”

The younger college students we see of their artwork class seem much more involved with making felt luggage than their subsequent door neighbor. We ask them in the event that they really feel scared dwelling so near North Korea. One says sure, one other says no.

Jin Younger-jin, the principal of the varsity, says lecturers now not describe North Koreans as evil.

“We moderately stress the significance of the 2 Koreas’ unification,” Jin mentioned. “Many kids right here do hope South and North Korea can be reunified within the close to future.”

By necessity, the children have a exceptional understanding of one of many world’s most prescient risks however it does not seem to have affected their hopes or ambitions.

A poster hanging on the varsity wall reveals what the youngsters need to be once they develop up.

Their best choice? A baseball participant, carefully adopted by soccer participant, nurse, engineer and for only one little one amongst dozens their dream job is to turn out to be a soldier.